It’s an open question whether the federal government will cut or freeze Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, but Kent city leaders are proceeding as if the funds will keep flowing.
CDBGs support housing, community facilities, economic development and social service projects, mainly for low- and moderate-income communities. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development apportions grant funds to cities and counties nationwide, as well as to U.S. territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. Those political entities invite qualifying organizations to apply for the funds and distribute them accordingly.
The Trump administration’s proposed 2025 budget, which has not yet received Congress’ final approval, would cut CDBG spending nationwide by $455 million. No word yet on what Congress, or the president, will ultimately decide.
“The city has not received any notification from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or any other federal agency that its 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has been affected by any current actions at the federal level,” Community Development Director Bridget Susel wrote in a March 4 email to The Portager.
Susel reports that Kent anticipates receiving $280,000 in CDBG funds for 2025. Her March 5 report to council stated that the city’s Community Development Department intends to retain its funding objectives from the previous five years: Targeting infrastructure improvements in low- to moderate-income residential areas, offering housing programs to provide safe and decent housing for low- to moderate-income households and providing appropriate supportive services for low- to moderate-income persons.
Susel recommended City Council approve six recipients:
- $170,000 to Kent’s engineering department for its work designing and reconstructing Elm Street from Dodge Street to South Water Street. The work includes paving, new sidewalks, concrete curbs and gutters, and catch basins and storm sewers to improve drainage along the roadway. Construction on the multi-year projects is scheduled for 2027.
- $10,000 to the city’s police department for its neighborhood policing program. The NPP provides additional patrols and police visibility primarily in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and in publicly assisted housing complexes. The idea is to improve communications, trust and understanding between residents and police. Kent police had requested $24,000 for the program. Its funding allocation last year was $7,000.
- $15,000 to Axess Family Services for homeless shelter services (Miller Community House, Kent’s only emergency homeless shelter). The funding helps cover the cost of Kent residents who stay there, including case management, counseling and housing placement.
- $17,995 to Axess Family Services to replace the roof at its transitional housing duplex, located at 161-163 Currie Hall Parkway. The structure provides temporary housing for individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity in the city. AFS received no funds for this project in 2024.
- $44,100 to Community Action Council of Portage County to continue its Kent Furnace Inspection/Targeted Replacement Program. CAC funds furnace inspections, tune-ups and replacements of failing or inefficient furnaces and hot water tanks for low- to moderate-income Kent households. CAC received $35,000 in CDBG funds last year.
- $19,000 to Fair Housing Contact Service, which provides Kent with a consultant who investigates fair housing complaints and provides public education and outreach services in the city.
With council’s approval, the city also plans to award itself $3,000 in 2025 CDBG funds to cover grant administrative costs, including staffing, supplies, advertising, postage, copying, travel costs for training and other related costs. The city’s 2024 administrative allocation was $2,425.
After a public hearing is held regarding the proposed CDBG allocations, council is expected to authorize the allocations in May.
Should the Trump administration target CDBGs, it wouldn’t be the first time. His administration’s proposed budget for 2017 eliminated the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), CDBGs, the HOME program and the Community Services Block Grant.
Ultimately, the programs were not cut. Since 2017, Kent’s annual CDBG allocation has generally hovered from slightly less than $250,000 to just over $306,220. An exception was 2020, when the city’s $303,720 allocation was augmented by two COVID-related awards totalling $341,362.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.